I Want to Start a New Pack, Troop, or Crew

Creating a Scouting Unit

Not every community, church, school, or organization has a
Scouting pack, troop, or crew
associated with it. Sometimes, starting a new group is the best way to
bring Scouting to your community. With a willing group of volunteers
and interested youth, it's easy to get Scouting started near you.

How Scouting Units are Organized

Every Scouting unit requires adult leaders, youth, and a
chartering organization. First the chartering organization agrees to
adopt the Scouting program. Then you must recruit and train the
leaders. Once you have trained leaders ready to start, recruit the
youth. From there you can plan your program year, complete the
paperwork, and hold your first meeting.

What is a Chartering Organization?

A chartering organization, such as a church, school, concerned
citizen's group, agrees to work with the specific pack, troop, or crew.
They'll provide
meeting space, help find and approve adult leaders, and appoint an
individual as the Chartered Organization Representative. This
representative works as a liaison between the organization and the
Scout
group.

Any organization can be a chartering organization and there
are no special qualifications. The chartering organization falls under
the insurance of the Boy Scouts of America.

What Leaders are Needed?

There
are different leader requirements for different types of Scouting
units. All units must have a Chartered Organization Representative. If
a single organization sponsors more than one unit (like a Pack and a
Troop), that representative must be the same person for both units.

For a Pack you need:

Cubmaster (plan and lead the monthly pack meeting, keeping
the kids and families engaged and excited)

Committee Chair (lead behind the scenes administrative
tasks
and support efforts to run
the pack)

Chartered Organization Representative (act as a liaison
between the pack and chartering organization)

Two Committee Members (work with the committee chair to run
the
pack in roles like treasurer or secretary)

Den Leader (plan and lead the den meetings for one age
group, helping the boys earn advancements)

Scoutmaster (support and guide the youth leadership as they
plan and lead the troop meetings)

Committee Chair (lead behind the scenes administrative
tasks
and support efforts to run the troop)

Chartered Organization Representative (act as a liaison
between the troop and chartering organization)

Two Committee Members (work with the committee chair to run
the troop in roles like treasurer or secretary)

Not required but recommended: Assistant
Scoutmaster(s), additional committee members

For a Crew you need:

Advisor (support and guide the youth leadership as they
plan and lead the crew meetings)

Committee Chair (lead behind the scenes administrative
tasks and support efforts to run the crew)

Chartered Organization Representative (act as a liaison
between the crew and chartering organization)

Two Committee Members (work with the committee chair to run
the crew in roles like treasurer or secretary)

Not required but recommended: Associate Advisor(s),
additional committee members

What Paperwork Needs to Be Filled Out?

For
a new unit, you'll need to turn in a new unit application, a signed
charter organization agreement, and applications for every adult leader
and youth member.

You get to pick your unit number, but
we can't guarantee that every number is available. Don't get your
hopes up about being Troop 123 without first checking to see if that
unit already exists!

William D. Boyce New Unit Organizer Award

Organizing
a new unit can be hard work, between corralling people and filling out
the paperwork. To recognize the volunteers who have dedicated their
time and energy to expanding Scouting to new communities, we give out
the William D. Boyce New Unit Organizer Award. William D. Boyce was the
founder of Boy Scouts in America - he learned about Scouting in England
and organized the first ever Scouting units here. In his honor, you'll
receive a certificate and a knot to wear on your uniform.

Want to Get Started?

Contact your district executive or district membership team
and they'll get you started on your journey!